Buyers rush to grab 13 licence plate

8:10pm Friday 1st March 2013 in News By Katie Bond

Buyers rush to grab 13 licence plate Buyers rush to grab 13 licence plate

CAR ENTHUSIASTS were flocking to forecourts at motor dealerships across the town yesterday as the new registration plate went on sale.

And this year, Friday and 13 was a lucky combination with the new plate.

Scores of car buyers eagerly arrived at dealerships to pick up their new vehicles, with Dick Lovett Mini and Fish Brothers Honda at Bridgemead among those reporting an exceptionally busy day.

Pebley Beach Suzuki and Hyundai specialists also welcomed 24 proud new owners into their Swindon and Cirencester showrooms over the day, with many more due to come in over the weekend.

One of those picking up her new car– a rose blush coloured Alto – was Nicola Brown from Covingham who is hoping the number 13 will be lucky for her.

Nicola, 33, a physiotherapist, said: “I’m pleased with the Alto, I was able to choose the colour and I could choose the number plate as well, so I went for something that both my husband and I could easily remember. “The fact that it includes the number 13 didn’t put me off, in fact I waited to have it especially, this will be my lucky car.”

Dom Threlfall, the managing director of Pebley Beach, said: “March 1 and September 1 are two of our busiest days at Pebley. “People do still want new cars and with the offers available, it can often be more cost effective to buy brand new than to buy a second hand vehicle which is a couple of years old.

“Although 13 is unlucky for some, superstition hasn’t slowed sales here. Inquiries and sales for new cars have risen compared to the same time last year and in total we have over 75 new 13 plate cars going out over the next few days. “We did see some customers rush to buy their cars last month to avoid the number, but the majority of people see it as just another number.”

And, despite research suggesting drivers nationally would be put off buying cars with the number 13 in the number plate, a spokesman at Fish Brothers Honda said the sales team had been busy all day and it was a similar picture at many other dealerships in the town.

However, a study by carbuzz.co.uk discovered 27 per cent of motorists would be discouraged from buying a vehicle when the licence plates came in to circulation yesterday.

Of the 2,058 motorists and car insurance policy holders questioned, 10 per cent admitted superstitions surrounding the number 13 would deter them from making a purchase.

A similar study by car finance and dealer specialists Carfinance247 showed 14 per cent would pay for a personalised number plate to avoid having a car registration plate with 13 in it.

Louis Rix, director at Carfinance247.co.uk, said: “The study shows that more than one in 10 motorists associate the number 13 with bad luck, and would rather buy the same, make and model of vehicle – at the same price – to get a ‘62’ registration plate.

“It will be interesting to look back and see if this year was really bad luck for new car manufacturers and good luck for used car dealers.”

Comments(26)

pats43 says...
8:55pm Fri 1 Mar 13

"Look at me I've got more money than you, I can now drive to Waitrose now in my new 13 reg car". The word "snobs" comes to mind.

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pats43 says...
9:01pm Fri 1 Mar 13

Anyway the cars could have been sat at the pound at Portbury docks fo at least a year waiting for dealer to call for the car.Just because the reg number is 2013 the car could have been built in 2012 and again could have been sat at Portbury dock for several months. Only the chassis number gives the correct year of the car.

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timt1964 says...
11:00pm Fri 1 Mar 13

all very well but have they paid for the cars or are they stitched up with hp payments for the next few years?? only 13 plate i saw today was on a yellow clio driven by a show off who obviously doesnt care if his new banana on wheels gets damaged.new car but same old idiots behind the wheel.by the way adver the cars went out today not yesterday.

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faatmaan says...
11:06pm Fri 1 Mar 13

the usual predictable story from the adver in support of its key weekly advertisers, nothing less nothing more, remember they were telling us how great things were when the car industry was near stagnant.just propaganda for their buddies.

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dukeofM4 says...
11:54pm Fri 1 Mar 13

Remember whatever you think of the economy, car sales are a leading indicator. They're the first to fall and the first to come back. If car sales are up, the economy has better days ahead.

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Davey Gravey says...
12:02am Sat 2 Mar 13

pats43 wrote:
"Look at me I've got more money than you, I can now drive to Waitrose now in my new 13 reg car". The word "snobs" comes to mind.
What a plonker

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Monty73 says...
9:06am Sat 2 Mar 13

pats43 wrote:
"Look at me I've got more money than you, I can now drive to Waitrose now in my new 13 reg car". The word "snobs" comes to mind.
Doesn't mean you have more money just means you took out a hugh bank loan probably.

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Tim Newroman says...
9:58am Sat 2 Mar 13

pats43 wrote:
"Look at me I've got more money than you, I can now drive to Waitrose now in my new 13 reg car". The word "snobs" comes to mind.
How do you know they're not (presumably, according to you) 'decent, hard working people' who've been saving up for the past 5 years?

They may have had family members die and used the inheritance to, finally, be able to afford their own car.

YOU are the snob here, sneering and attacking people who can afford to buy a new car. Your brand of selfish jealousy is partly what holds this country back.

Anyone who bought a new car over the last few days should ignore petty snipes like the one above. Good luck to you with your purchase and I hope you enjoy your cars.

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Empty Car Park says...
11:02am Sat 2 Mar 13

Okay

I will :-)

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Always Grumpy says...
11:43am Sat 2 Mar 13

Let's hope a lot of the new cars being registered are British built - even though a foreign owned company.
Personally, I'm thrilled to bits with my new Aston Martin, although it did look a bit pretentious when I parked in Aldi's car park to do my shopping yesterday.

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Raef Barnes says...
11:53am Sat 2 Mar 13

pats43 wrote:
Anyway the cars could have been sat at the pound at Portbury docks fo at least a year waiting for dealer to call for the car.Just because the reg number is 2013 the car could have been built in 2012 and again could have been sat at Portbury dock for several months. Only the chassis number gives the correct year of the car.
A case of the green eyed monster striking here.

Without meaning to, you're comments are completely laughable.

You've made yourself look a complete idiot with your comments. I'm surprised you're able to type properly with that big chip on your shoulder!!!

As others have said good luck to those who bought a new car, hope it gives you plenty of enjoyment.

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Tim Newroman says...
12:01pm Sat 2 Mar 13

Empty Car Park wrote:
Okay

I will :-)
Good, I hope you do. Nice to see people helping the economy along for Mr Osborne. Did you go for anything decent?

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roberto5 says...
12:42pm Sat 2 Mar 13

pats43 wrote:
"Look at me I've got more money than you, I can now drive to Waitrose now in my new 13 reg car". The word "snobs" comes to mind.
You better go and live in North Korea were no one is allowed anything then.

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house on the hill says...
12:55pm Sat 2 Mar 13

Choosing what to spend your money on isn't being a snob it's about freedom of choice. There are millions out there who spend far more on smoking and drinking that's those who but new cars, as others have said its just jealousy which is rife in this country. I work with people who choose to spend £500 a month on drink and fags, which is far less than most who bought a new car will be paying in repayments, which I think is far more stupid, but its their choice. Stop making stupid comments like that, we should be pleased the motor industry is on the up.

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peatmoor pirate says...
1:17pm Sat 2 Mar 13

pats43 wrote:
"Look at me I've got more money than you, I can now drive to Waitrose now in my new 13 reg car". The word "snobs" comes to mind.
The word "envious" comes to mind.
For all you know, many of these people may have saved for years. Why so miserable and aggressive towards people you don't know?

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MrAngry says...
2:09pm Sat 2 Mar 13

pats43 wrote:
"Look at me I've got more money than you, I can now drive to Waitrose now in my new 13 reg car". The word "snobs" comes to mind.
All cars were new once. If nobody bought new cars there wouldn't be any second hand ones.

Personally, I prefer to buy my cars when they are a year or two old, but that is about value for money rather than snobbery or inverted snobbery/jealousy.

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PJC says...
2:50pm Sat 2 Mar 13

I've never understood the obsession personally, just like those people who camp out for the latest iPhone, but if they have the money and that's what they want to spend it on, then it's none of my business.

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Worked Hard says...
3:57pm Sat 2 Mar 13

pats43 wrote:
"Look at me I've got more money than you, I can now drive to Waitrose now in my new 13 reg car". The word "snobs" comes to mind.
Its gotta be better than getting a stinky bus to Farm foods though eh !

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jerryrabbit says...
6:35pm Sat 2 Mar 13

some one above wrote about the cars sitting at Portbury dock,and then recived abuse and saying they didnt know what they were talking about..Well that person who said about portbury is spot on.When the cars are made at honda or imported they are held at portbury dock until dealers call them off.They are held at portbury and wait for dealer instructions,for example to have air con fitted or sunroof etc.Not all of these extras are put on in the factorys..How do i know this,well i used to work for a large Japanes car company and would make regular visits to portbury dock,and sheerness docks and that person is correct they can sit around for up to 12 months before being called off and it is the chassis number that gives the year of manufacture not the reg plate..

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Raef Barnes says...
12:33am Sun 3 Mar 13

So these cars that sit in a docks for 12 months or so. Do they get driven to Asda every week with some kids in the back?

Or taken on a one week family holiday down to Cornwall or Devon?

Do they get driven by some sales exec and delivered to their new owner with 50,000 miles on the clock?

If not, then again, let the people who have budgeted to buy a 'new' car enjoy their purchase.

Never bought a new car in my life, and probably never will, but I'll not slate those that do. Fair play to them.

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Empty Car Park says...
1:10am Sun 3 Mar 13

Tim Newroman wrote:
Empty Car Park wrote:
Okay

I will :-)
Good, I hope you do. Nice to see people helping the economy along for Mr Osborne. Did you go for anything decent?
Oh yes.

Check out the pics on my website

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Tim Newroman says...
9:09am Sun 3 Mar 13

Empty Car Park wrote:
Tim Newroman wrote:
Empty Car Park wrote:
Okay

I will :-)
Good, I hope you do. Nice to see people helping the economy along for Mr Osborne. Did you go for anything decent?
Oh yes.

Check out the pics on my website
Wait. What? You put pictures of your new car on 'your website'?

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Empty Car Park says...
10:27am Sun 3 Mar 13

As well you know :-)

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Tim Newroman says...
10:50am Sun 3 Mar 13

Empty Car Park wrote:
As well you know :-)
Er, no. As ever, you're thinking those weird thoughts in your head and making the mistake of believing it's reality.

I have no idea what 'your website' address is and I have no idea what your new car is.

You made a few comments that seem to suggest you believe you're well know, or some kind of 'personality'... it's all a little worrying, really.

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Worked Hard says...
11:54am Sun 3 Mar 13

I for one am curious !

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Localboy86 says...
8:43am Tue 5 Mar 13

Empty Car Park wrote:
As well you know :-)
You the same guy that always banged on about ariel photos then? Why the change of login?

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